BY BOY RYAN B. ZABALThe 2016 Philippine Festival in Tokyo, Japan will gather the best festivals in the country including the world-renowned Ati-Atihan festival.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez said the
Philippine Festival will take place in the historic Hibiya Park from June 18 to
19 as the biggest annual Filipino event in Japan. The event attracts more than
100,000 visitors every year to witness the showcase the best there is in
Philippine culture, craft and music, dance, festivals, food and tourism
destinations.
"This festival is expected to be special as 2016 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Philippine-Japan diplomatic relations," said Lopez in his invitation to Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores.
Ati-Atihan performers in colorful and lively costumes, he said, could join the Tokyo event parade and the two-stage program of the Philippine Festival.
Lopez also mentioned, "the Philippine Festival is an excellent opportunity to promote Aklan province in Japan, aside from bringing in the famous and widely attended Ati-Atihan." The Ati-Atihan afterall, he said, earns the monicker "Mother of All Philippine Festivals" and "Mardi Gras of the Philippines".
Now on its fifth year, the Philippine Festival is free admission to the public which aims to reach out to the Filipino community in Japan to appreciate Filipino culture in mainstream Japanese society and to foster friendship between Filipinos and Japanese.
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